Wood vs. Cork rod handles

[uffdapete]

I guess we'll agree to disagree on wood vs. cork. I've fished wood handles for 10 years without even a hint of a problem and I don't baby them. The finish gets slightly marred on the butt however nothing that's caused a problem.

I've built quite a few lake trout rods for ice fishing and they can take a real beating fishing in extreme cold, sticking in them in the snow and slush, and riding in a sled or packed on a snowmachine for long distances. Once in a while you break a conventional graphite blank or a guide but no problems with anything else.

[upnorth]

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But IMO corks advantages outweigh that of wood. The sensitivity issue is easy to get around though. I install exposed blank reel seats on all of my rods that I build, it takes a little bit of extra time, but it is well worth it.

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Not all wood is created equal. Yes if you use and extremely hard dense wood you will lose some sensitivity, it is not the wood itself it is the weight. I you use a good durable finish on the wood that is made for wood(ever notice how long the finish on a hardwood floor lasts) it is gonna be some time before you take a toll on the finish. When using wood for a rod handle a person really needs to pay attention to what the rod will be used for. Pitching big plugs, inline spinners, etc on a big Musky rod the dense hardwood would be fine. You want a to have one on a Walleye rod you need something a bit lighter to enhance the sensitivity. It isn't the wood itself it is the application and type of wood. I have used various types of cedar for walleye rods for other folks and they swear they can feel a Walleye fart nearby with their rods.

[MikeYager - Suzuki]

My best walleye bait rig rod has a walnut handle on Legend blank. It's fantastic. The wood handle is very sensitive. Its been my go-to bait rig rod for several years. Diameter is small and weight has never been an issue. When this one breaks I will get another.